Closet flushing-valve



(No Moae1.)f

P.- HARVEY.

loLosBfl: PLUSHING VALVE.

No; 375,353.` Patented neo.- 27, 1887i UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

vPATRICK HARVEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLOSET FLUSHING-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,353, dated December 27, 1887.

Application filed January 24, 18B?.

To aZZ 1071.071?, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VPATRICK HARVEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in Cook county, in the State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Closet Flushing-Valves, which is fully described in the following specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a iiushing-tank and the valve which controls the outflow therefrom located therein; Fig. 2 is asimilar vertical section of the iiushing tank or reservoir and its controlling eduction-valve, said tank being fully inclosed and designed to be Ioperated under pressure, and having a pressure-regulator attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a detailed axial section of apressureregulating device, shown in position to admit water to the reservoir. Fig. 4 is a section through line a: 4Q-Fig. 2.

A is the tank; B, the supply-pipe leading thereto, controlled by the valve B', regulatedby the iioat B2.

C is the iiushing-pipeleading from the tank; C', the `overliow-pipe within the tank, connected with said iiushing-pipe. D is a iioatvalve. As illustrated, it has a cylindrical form. This is not essential to its operation.

E is a weighted lever which by suitable connections operates the valve D.

I will describe the operation of this valve first as shown inthe open tank in Fig. I. The Valve D is light enough to iioat upon the water, but when it is seated over the mouth of the iiushing-pipe it is exposed to the downward pressure of the water over an area equal to its greatest plane diameter and receives the upward pressure or buoyant effect of the water over an area which is the only difference between the area of the mouth of theiiushingpipe over` which it is seated and its greatest plane diameter, and the specific gravity of said valve is such that this difference, which is the net buoyant effect of the water when the valve is seated, is not equal to the downward pressure of the water over the area of the mouth of the flushing-pipe, so that the valve when once submerged and seatedis held upon its seat notwithstanding its capability of floating. In this position it is represented Serial No. 225,370. (No model.)

in Fig. l. When thus seated, it shuts off the supply of water from the flushing pipe and closet, and when the closet is operated and it is desired to admit the flushing-water thereto the lever E, being operated by any convenient means, as by the pull-chain E', will lil't the valve D off its seat over the mouth of the finishing-pipe a sufficient distance so that the inflowing current of water under it and between it and its seat will not be able to draw it back again onto said seat, and, being thus exposed to pressure upon all sides, it will irnmediately operate as a Boat, rising to the surface of the water as itis exhausted through the flushing-pipe until it becomes in close proximity again with its seat over the mouth 0f the flushing pipe, whereupon it will be drawn downward slightly against the buoyant-effect of the water by the inliowing current, and will therefore seat over the mouth of the pipe, and, having seated, it will be still more iirmly held upon its seat by the waterpressure, and the ltank will again immediately {ill-from the supply-valve until that is closed by the action of the -iioat B2 in the usual manner. In order that the float-valve D, after having left its seat and risen to the surface ofthe water, as described, may with certainty again reach its seat as the water falls, the connecting-chain between the said lfloat-valve and the lever E should be no tainty to rest upon the mouth-of the pipe and not fall aside from it as the water allows it to reach the properlevel to seat. In order more perfectly to accomplish the same result, and in order to cause the valve always to seat with the same portion ofits surface in contact with its said seat, I prefer to weight the lower portion of thevalve in the vicinity of the surface which is t'o come into contact with the valveseat, so that that portion will naturally be the lower portion, and as the valve floats in the water and descends with it it will therefore be caused to reach its seat in the position desired.

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and described. Such weighted portion is described in Fig. 1 by the letter d.

rllhe form shown in Fig. 2 involves two variations from the structure which I have above described, and which is illustrated in Fig. 1:

First. The water-reservoir in Fig. 2 is incloscd and the water therein is supplied under pressure, and the air above the water is compressed by the water which is thus forced into the chamber, and which, reacting from such compression, serves to eject the water when the valve D is opened.

Second. The said valve is removed from its seat by a thrust from beneath, effected by the piston-valve F,which fits closely in the passage c, forming the induction-mouth of the flushing-pipe C. Said piston-valve is hollow and forms, in effect, a cup or chamber at the top, its upper edge comingin contact with andlifting the valve and having the lateral ports f, which open into the reservoir when the piston is at its highest point, as when it has lifted thevalve D, and which open into the flushingpipe when the piston is at its lowest point, as when the valve is upon its seat. This pistonvalve F is operated in any convenient or familiar manner, as by the lever G, rocking upon the pivot G, suitably boxed and packed in the flushing-pipe and operated by the lever-arm G, outside of thc said pipe, connected to a suitable pull-chain, E.

In this construction the operation is as follows: V'Vhen the chamber is full and the valve upon its seat, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and it is desired to liush the closet, the pull-chain E being operated, the lever G actuates the piston-valve F upward,f1rst causing its ports to be covered by the surrounding wall of the passage c, then causing the upper edge of said piston-valve to` engage the fioat-valve D and lift it forcibly from its seat a short distance, suicient only to uncover the ports f at the upper end by causing them to pass above the valve-seat, and thereby admitting the water into the cup or chamber of the piston F. By this means the pressure is equalized upon both sides of the float-valve D and it will immediately rise to the surface of the water; but the piston-valve F will now as completely close the mouth of the eduction-pipe as it was before closed by the float-valve D, and this will cont-inne to be the condition of the device so long as the lever G is held in the position to which it was moved by the pull-chain E when it lifted the valve D from its seat. As soon as the pull-chain is released the pressure of the water upon the valve F will force it back to the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 1, and the float-valve D, being now at the surface of the water, no longer obstructing the mouth of the flushing-pipe, the water will escape through the piston-valve F out through its ports f and pass to the closet. This process will cont-inue until the water falling in the chamber brings the Heat-valve D again down upon the mouth of the flushing-pipe, where it will be immediately seated, as described in respect tothe form shown in Fig. 1, by the friction of the outtlowing current of the water, and this having occurred the pressure of the water will hold it still more firmly upon its seat and the chamber will again fill from the supply-pipe. The chamber in the piston F is so small that it will fill almost instantly, so that the form herein described is adapted to be operated either by the pull or by connection with the seat.

At the top of the chamber A in Fig. 2 is located the supply-pipe, which is connected with the pressure-regu]ator. The form of this pressureregulator is substantially as described in the patent granted to me May 9, 1882, No. 257,697; but I will herein describe it sufficiently to show its operation in connection with the other devices. 3 is the inductionpipe. B is the discharge-pipe into the reservoir. H is a piston-stem playing in the chamber B, laterally to which is the inductionpipe B, and at the end of which is the discharge-pipe Bt. The said piston has rigid with it three pistons, H, H2, and H, which are provided with the proper packing in the posit-ion shown in Fig. 2. One ofthe said pistons, H', is between the entrance of the pipe B and the discharge-pipe B4, cutting off communication in that direction. Another' of said pistons, H2, ents off connection between the pipe H and the chamber 35 in the other direction.

Between the pistons H2 and H3 is an annular passage, IP. Longitudinally through said piston-stem isa central passage, H, connected by ports h with the annular passage H, and leading thence to the end of the piston-stem and opening beyond the piston H into t-he discharge-pipe B4. Beyond the piston H is located the spring J, which acts longitudinally against said piston, and is stopped by the capnut K, which not only serves the purpose of a stop for said spring, but also closes the end of the chamber B5. Vhen the water is drawn from the chamber A and the pressure upon the piston H is thereby diminished, so that it is less than the pressure exerted in the contrary direction by the spring J, said spring will force the piston-stem with all its pistons or valves inward or downward toward the chamber, bringing the piston H to the position shown in Fig. 3 and allowing the water from the supply-pipe B to gain access to the annular passage H", and thence, by the way of the ports H, the longitudinal passage H4, and the discharge-passage B, into chamber A. This process of supply will continue until the pressure within the chamber is again sufcient to compress the spring J by forcing the piston-stem outward and upward until the piston Hl is again inthe position shown in Fig. 2, cutting off connection between the supplypipe B3 and the annular passage HL. The pressure which will be thus obtained in the chamberA will be determined by the resistant pressure of the spring J, and this may be regu lated and adapted to the entire device, and to IOO IIO

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the particular situation -and character of the closet to which it is to be attached by means of the cap-nut K, which may be screwed down on the end of the chamber b5, so as to compress 5 the spring J to any desired degree.4

In order that there may be no compression of air occurring between the cap-nut and the piston H", an air-vent should be made either in the cap itself or laterally through the wall 1o of the chamber H5. Thelatter position I consider preferable, because by leakage some of the water may pass the piston H3 into the space where the spring J is located, and there should be, therefore, awaste-duct in connection with t 5 that portion of said chamber to carry off the water, and this waste-duct can be made also to serve as an air-vent; but in order to act as a convenient waste connection it should be lateral, and not at the upper end.

I do not limit myself to this particular form of pressure-regulator, as any other convenient form may be connected with the chamber A, wherein is the floatvalve D, inthe manner and for the purpose described.

ing-pipeleading therefrom,the valve D, lighter than water and adapted to seat over the mouth -of the ilushingpipe, the piston F, operating 3o underneath the valve to force i-t from its seat and having a chamber, F', opening upward,

covered by this valve, and having also'the 1. In combination with the tank, the flushi 2. In combination with the tank, the flush- 4o ing-pipe leading therefrom, the valve seating over the mouth of the flushing-pipe, having specific gravity less than water, the piston F, playing underneath the valve in the mouth of the flushing-pipe and having a cavity opening 45 upward and covered by the valve, and having ports leading into said cavity, which are uncovered and open into the tank when the piston is at its highest andinto the flushing-pipe when it is at its lowest, and means, substan- 5o tially as described, whereby said piston is forced up against the valve, lifts it from its seat, and is afterward allowed to fall, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the tank completely 55 inclosed except as to its induction and eduction passages, the valve D, located within the tank, adapted to seat over the mouth of the eduction-passage, and made lighter than water, the piston F, located in the ednction-passage 5o and articulating with the valve D, and forming a chamber between said valve and the remainder of the eduction-passage, said piston being adapted at its highest position to hold said valve off its seat and close the eduction- 5 5 passage and at its lowest position to unclose the eduction passage, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses', at 7o Chicago, Illinois, this 19th day of January, 1887.

PATRICK HARVEY.

Witnesses: i

Cifras. S. BURTON, FRANCES W. PARKER. 

